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LOOM. l No. 576,508. Patented'leb. 2, 1897.

Z lll ll 0 "Il L hh um X f o llllllllllllll X Illlllllll 1 Y 7 g I 5 APatnted Peb. 2, 1897.

2. M e h s .M t e nu h S 2 P. 0 R H Tl Rm 0 ML H J (No Model.)

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES II. NORTHROP, OF I-IOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THENORTHROP LOOM COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE AND SACO, MAINE.

LOOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,508, dated February2, 1897'.

Application filed May 22, 1896. Serial No. 592,571. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMEs II. NoRrHRor, of I-Iopedale, county ofWorcester, and State of Massachusetts,` have invented an 11nprovement inLooms, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like let-4 ters and figureson the drawings representing Y like parts. to This invention relates tothat class of looms wherein the harness-frames are provided with heddlescomposed of thin metallic strips having holes for the reception of thewarp-threads, said devices being made effective in stopping 15 the loomwhen a warp-thread breaks or abnormally slackens.

In the loom to be hereinafterdescribed the harness-frames areindependently operated by a combination of cams and treadles or zolevers, the rolls of the harness-treadles running on the tops of thecams, of which latter there are two sets, one at each side of the loom.

In carrying out my invention I provide 2 5 each harness-frame with aseries of detectorheddles, which are strung at one end on a transversesupport or actuator-bar, so that the heddles may be raised and loweredwith the harness-frames, while having a limited vertical movementrelative thereto.

The free ends of the heddles of each series lie side by side, theheddles of one harnessframe being located in front of the series of theother frame, the two series being con- 3 5 trolled as to their positionin the direction of the Warp by a guide within which they slide up anddown, the guide having an open bottom.

A fixed separator is interposed between the lower ends of the two seriesof heddles to prevent the heddles of one series from interfering withthose of the other series, the separator also forming a side support fora dropped heddle when cooperating with the detector to set thestop-motion into operation.

A dropped heddle is engaged by a vibrating detector which is actuated bymeans moving in unison with the lower loom or harness-operating shaft,whereby the action 1' of the detector will be slower thanin usual loomsof this class.

As in United States Patent No. 536,968, dated April 2, 1895, to whichreference may be had, the slots in the heddles through which theactuators are extended are longer than the width of the latter, so thatwhen the vactuator is descending it will act upon the heddles at thelower ends of their slot-s, pushing the heddles down to put the warpscarried thereby into the lower plane of the shed.

Should a warp in the lower plane of the shed break or unduly slacken,its heddle, by reason ofthe slot in its end, would drop relatively toits actuator to thereby put the end of the dropped heddle into properposition to coperate with and put into operation stopmotion mechanism,of which the detector forms a part, to stop the loom. 7o

The detect-or is so constructed as to engage a dropped heddle in eitherharness.

The stop-motion mechanism comprises various novel features, which willbe hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figurev 1 is a front elevation, centrally 'broken out to save space, ofa loom embodying my invention, the breast-beam and lay being omitted forthe sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view ofthe loom shown in Fig. l, taken on the line x fr, looking toward theleft. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the releasing mechanism for theshipper-handle, taken below the line 8 5 oc Fig. l. Fig. 4 is aperspective view of one of the stands or boxes at the end of thetransverse heddle separator. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of thebearings for the heddle-frame slide-rods, to be described, and 9oshowing the supports for the heddle-guide. Fig. 6 is a sectional detailof a part of the shipper-handle-releasing mechanism, to be described,and Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the separator-bar and the detectorsor feelers.

The loom-frame A, crank or lay shaft A therein, having suitable fast andloose pulleys, (not shown,) the cross or cam shaft A2, the lay A,carrying a reed R, the breastbeam B, the shipper-handle A4, and the monotched plate A5 to hold it in place while the loom is running properlyare and may be all as common in looms.

I have attached to the uprights A at each side the frame suitable likeboxes or stands A, made hollow, as shown at A7, through which areextended the pitmen AS, connecting the crank-shaft A and the lay A3, asshown in Fig. 2, each stand having secured thereto or forming a part ofit a cross-girth Ct, extended across the loom from side to side andforming a separator for the heddles.

I have herein shown two independent heddle-frames, each frame beingcomposed, essentially, of a cross-bar b, connected rigidly to side barsor slide-rods b2, and each frame has suitably attached thereto, as bybolts 2, heddle-carrying bars or actuators bx.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the heddles c are each composed of a flatstrip, preferably of metal, having, preferably, a round warp-receivingeye 0X andan elongated slot c at its upper end, said slots receivingthrough them the actuator-bars bx, the slots being longer than said barsare wide to let the heddles have a verticalmovementindependently of thevertical movement of the heddle-frame.

The side or slide bars b2 of the heddleframes are mounted to slidevertically in bearings e, forming a part of stands or brackets E, twosuch bearings being herein shown side by side (see Fig. 5) to receivethe slidebars at adjacent ends of the two heddle frames, the brackets Ehaving depending feet e', which straddle the separator-bar a, and ashelf e2, which rests upon and is secured to the top of the box or standAG by bolts 3.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, the lower ends of the slide-rods b2 areshown as threaded at b3 to receive check-nuts b4, which hold in adjustedposition on the rods collars b5, to which are jointed levers b Uf,pivoted on a crossgirth bs of the looin-frame, the levers bG beingconnected to one and the levers bT to the other heddle-frame. Theleversare provided, respectively, with upturned curved arms ZJGX (17X, whichpreferably carry rolls (i 7, resting upon the tops of and being actedupon by suitable cams CG C7, carried by the shaft A2 referred to, saidcams being arranged in pairs at or near each side of the loom. As theadjacent slide-rods b2 are side by side, the connections between themand their respective levers are of different lengths, the collars b5 onthe rods b2 of the front heddle-fran1e being connected by long studs GOto the inner levers b, while the rods of the rear heddle-frame areconnected to their levers o7 by shorter studs 70, thereby affordingample room for their respective actuating-cams C6 C7. Veights WG WT areshown as adjustably secured to the levers in if, respectively, bysuitable set-- It will be seen that the shaft A2 is above the levers andbetween them and their rolls 6 7, the two heddle-frames being entirelyindependent of each other in their vertical movement.

I have shown the loom as provided with guides eX, extended from one tothe other side of the loom and secured to the ears e ot' the brackets E,the heddles c, bearing lightly against said guides during their verticalmovement, the lower ends of the two series of heddles entering the spacebetween the guides and being separated at their lower ends by theseparator a, so that the heddles of one series cannot interfere withthose of the other series.

The guides steady the heddles and prevent movement thereof in thedirection of the warp, and the separator a has secured to or formed uponits lower end a foot a', notched along each edge, (see Fig. 7,) to actin engaging the edge of a dropped heddle to better advantage, so as toprevent its twistingwhen being acted upon by the detector or feeler, tobe described.

Suitable hangers f, slotted at f', Fig. 2, are secured to the innersides of the loom-frame by bolts l2 and have bearings f2 for arockershaft F, held from longitudinal movement therein by suitablecollars fx, the said shaft having arms f3 rigidly secured thereto andforked or bifurcated at their outer ends.

Two bars fL (shown in Fig. 2 as angle-irons) are bolted to thebifurcated ends of the arms f3, the inner oppositely-turned edges ofsaid bars being preferably notched or toothed to embrace the edge of adropped heddle of one or the other series, obviating twisting orthrowing the heddles laterally out of place on their actuator-bar- Asshown in Fig. 2, the tops of the bars ft, which form detectors orfeelers, move toward and from the opposite edges of t-he foot d. Thenormal throw of the detector in one direction is illustrated, thevibration of the de tector being attained by the movement of therock-shaft F under normal or proper working conditions.

The rock-shaft F has fast thereon an arm f5, having oppositely-curvedextensions on its free end, the upward extension being provided with aslotted ear f6, while the downturned extension has a lug or projectionf7 thereon, extended laterally beneath an arm f 8, loosely mounted onthe shaft F and weighted at f9 at its free end, the arm f8 being held bythe weight fg normally against an actuating-cam Cs on the shaft A2. (SeeFig. 2.) The arm fs has secured thereto an upturned curved rod f 10,extended through the slotted ear f6 of the arm f5, a spring ssurrounding the guide-rod f1@ between the ear and the arm f8, thestrength of the spring being sufficient to normally hold the lug fTagainst the under side of the arm f8. Then said arm is moved by the camC8 into the position shown in Fig. 2, the yielding connection describedbetween it and the shaft F will rock the latter,

IOO

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moving the detector to thevleft, the weight f depressing the arm f8 inthe further revolution of the cam C8 and, acting against the lug f7,depresses the arm f5 to rock the shaft F in the opposite direction,moving the detector f4 to the right. If, however, aheddle'in eitherseries should drop by reason of the breakage or undue slackening of itswarp-thread, the said warp-thread then being in the lower plane of theshed and normally supporting its heddle, the detector-bar f4 on thatsideof the separator a would engage the heddle and the vibration of thedetector, and consequently the rock-shaft F would be stopped.

By virtue of the yielding connection between the rock-shaft `anditsactuator f8 the latter would be free to be moved by the cam C8, thespring s being compressed when the arm f8 was raised if a heddle in therear series should drop, and if a heddle of the front series dropped thelug]7 on the arm f5 would uphold the arm f8, so that it could not fallto its full extent.

As shown in Fig. l, the shaft F is extended beyond the left-hand bearingf 2 and has rigidly secured to it a rocker-arm fm, longitudinallyslotted at flg, Fig. 2, to receive therein a stud g on a dagger g,pivotally mounted at g2 on one arm g3 of an elbow-lever, the other armg4 of which (see Fig. 3) normally rests against the shipper-handle A4 asit is held in the notched plate A5.

A moving part of the loom, herein shown as one of the lay-supports A10,has secured thereto a notched lug h, which when the lay moves back willengage the lip g of the dagger g at times, the continued backwardmovement of the lay moving the dagger in the direction of its length toswing the arm g4 of the elbow-lever in the direction of arrow 25, Fig.3, to press theV shipper-handle A4 out of its retaining-notch in theplate A5, the shipper-handle as soon as thus released shifting the beltby means of the usual belt-fork (not shown) from the fast to the loosepulley, all in usual manner, to stop the loom. When the loom is runningproperly, however, the oscillation of the rock-shaft F will, through therocker-arm f12 and the slot and stud connection, swing the dagger g in avertical plane in such manner that the lip gX thereof will be moved outof the path of the lug 7L on the lay-support A10, so that the shipper'-releasing mechanism will normally remain inoperative.

As amatter of course when the oscillation of the rock-shaft F isstopped, as by a dropped heddle, the lip of the dagger will not be movedout of the path of its actuator, and the loom will be stopped before thelay can again beat up the filling.

The resetting of the shipper-handle by the operative acts upon thelever-arm g4 to return the parts of the releasing mechanism into normalposition, the slot-and-stud connection between the rocker-arm f12 andthe dagger g permitting the longitudinal movement of the latter toactuate the releasing mechanism.

As best shown in Figs. l and 6, a stand k, bolted to the loom side, hasextended downwardly therethrough a headed sleeve 7c', on which the hubg5 of the elbow-lever g3 g4 is rotatably mounted, a stud-bolt 7a2holding the hub in position on the sleeve, while preferably a washer wis interposed between the head of the stud and the lower end of the hub.Above the hub a plate 7c3 surrounds the sleeve lo and is shown in Fig. 6as having one or more projections 7a4 to enter depressions in the stand7l; to retain said plate from movement, the plate having a depending toe705 which acts as a stop to prevent un due movement of the elbow-leverin the direction opposite to the arrow 25, Fig. 31.

By oscillating the rock-shaft F from the lower oam-shattA2 a slowermovement is imparted thereto than has been heretofore possible, givingthe heddles more time to drop into position to engage the detector whena warp-thread slackens unduly or breaks when in the lower plane of theshed, so that the liability of the loom to run for one or .more picksafter a warp-thread has broken or slackened improperly is very greatlylessened.

To prevent improper lateral movement of the heddles in the series, Ihave shown herein a stop d10, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, represented as aU-shaped piece of metal straddling the separator a at each end of theseries of heddles c and between them and the stand A, although it willbe obvious that the stop could be formed integral with the stand or theseparator.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction andarrangement of parts herein shown and described, as the same may bemodified in various particulars without departing from the spirit andscope of my in vention.

. Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a loom, a plurality of heddle-frames, and a series of metallicheddles supported in each frame and adapted to slide verticallyindependent of the movement of the frame, combined with a iiXed guidefor the lower ends of the heddles, a separator interposed between andseparating the lower ends of the heddles of one series from the lowerends of the heddles of the adjacent series, a vibrating detector to meetthe edge of a dropped IOO IIC)

heddle, stopping mechanism for the loom, and

connections between it and the detector substantially as described.

2. In a loom, a plurality of heddle-frames, a series of metallic heddlessupported by and adapted to slide vertically in each frame, a fixedguide for the lower ends of the heddles, a separatorginterposed betweenthe lower ends of each two series of heddles, and a de tector to meetthe edge of a dropped heddle, combined with an actuating-shaft, connections between it and the heddle-lrames, means operating in unison withsaid actuating-shaft, to vibrate the detector, stopping mechanism forthe loom, and connections between it and the detector, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a loom, a plurality of frames, a series of metallic heddlessupported by and adapted to slide vertically in each frame, a separatorinterposed between the lower ends of the heddles of each two series, adetector having oppositely-turned portions to engage a dropped heddle inone or the other series, the separator at such times supporting theinner edge of the dropped heddle, and means to normally vibrate thedetector in the direction of the length of the warp, stopping` mechanismfor the loom, and connections between it and the detector, substantiallyas described.

4. In a loom, a pair of reciprocating heddle-rames, and a series ofvheddles on each frame, combined with a stationary guide into which thelower ends of the heddles enter, and a xed separator to separate thelower ends of the heddles of one series from the lower ends of theheddles of the other series, substantially as described.

5. In a loom, a pair of reciprocating heddleframes, and a series ofheddles on each frame,

combined with a stationary guide into which the lower ends of theheddles enter, a fixed separator interposed between the lower ends ofthe two series of heddles, and a notched foot on the separator, toreceive the edge of a dropped heddle, substantially as described.

G. In a loom, a pair of reciprocating heddleframes, a series of heddleson each, a stationary guide into which the lower ends of the heddlesenter, a separator extended across said guide between its sides andseparating the lower ends of the hedd-les of one series from the lowerends of the heddles of the other series, and a heddle-stop at each sideof the separator, at the ends. of and to maintain each series of heddlesfrom undue lateral movement, substantially as described.

7. In a loom, a shipper-handle, releasing mechanism therefor, includinga dagger, a reciprocating bar, a series of heddles thereon free to slidevertically to a limited extent, a vibrating detector, means including arocking arm, to norm ally vibrate it, and a yielding connection betweensaid arm and the detector, said detector engaging and being stopped by adropped heddle, connections between the detector and dagger to controlthe position of the latter, and means independent of the said v rockingarm to engage and move the dagger to release the shipper-handle when thedetector engages a dropped heddle, substantially as described.

S. In a loom, a shipper-handle, a detent therefor, releasing mechanismfor the shipper-handle, including an elbow-lever, and a dagger pivotal]y connected thereto, and means to engage and move the dagger when inoperati ve position to release the shipper-handle, combined with anormally-vibrated detector, connections between it and the dagger,including a slotted rocker-arm and a coperating stud on the dagger, tomove the latter by vibration of the detector, and a series ofvertically-reciprocated heddles, dropping of a heddle by breakage of awarp-thread in the lower plane of the shed causing stoppage of thedetector and thereby movement of the dagger into operative position,substantially as described.

9. In a loom, reciprocating heddle-frames, and a series of metallicheddles normally free to slide vertically to a limited extent on saidframes, combined with heddle-stops to limit the lateral movement of theheddles on the frames, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES I-I. NORTHROP.

fitnesses c' GEO. OTIs DRAPER, S. F. SMITH.

